2018 USA TODAY / NFCA DI TOP 25 PRESEASON COACHES POLL
The 2018 USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference. The first regular season poll will be published on Feb. 13.

I like that we are still considered being ranked in the polls, but losing two first team All Americans (SS & CF) and your top returning pitcher to transfer, along with the senior starters (1B, 2B, RF, DH), makes me somewhat leery of early rankings. I'd like to see how the season plays out a little. I do know we have a great coaching staff in place, but time will tell if we can show it on the field.

I think Coach Glasco is OK with the current roster, but has mentioned in an interview that it will take 3-4 years to bring in his tyhpe of recruits. He mentioned when he signed that he had received about 400 inquiries. We have received a few top 100 national commitments in the last couple of weeks, but you never know if they'll be there in three years.

(01-30-2018 05:11 PM)CajunAmos Wrote: I like that we are still considered being ranked in the polls, but losing two first team All Americans (SS & CF) and your top returning pitcher to transfer, along with the senior starters (1B, 2B, RF, DH), makes me somewhat leery of early rankings. I'd like to see how the season plays out a little. I do know we have a great coaching staff in place, but time will tell if we can show it on the field.

I think Coach Glasco is OK with the current roster, but has mentioned in an interview that it will take 3-4 years to bring in his tyhpe of recruits. He mentioned when he signed that he had received about 400 inquiries. We have received a few top 100 national commitments in the last couple of weeks, but you never know if they'll be there in three years.

There are 2 things working in the Cajuns favor this season, they are also 2 things working against them. 1. The only players that any Cajun opponents have a scouting report on are Kara Gremillion, Kelli Martinez and Lexie Comeaux (Kylee Jo Trahan to a small degree). The crux of the production will come from new ball players. 2. With the exception of the transfers, these are all Michael Lotief recruits. He only recruited players who he felt he could teach his system, which should mean they are coachable and they have some ability. If Michael Lotief can, Gerry Glasco should be able to also.

USA faces quite a few teams that are ranked/receiving votes this year... Alabama, LSU, Florida State, Tennessee, Minnesota, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Louisiana, Texas State, and McNeese State. Hopefully we can get back to where we were a few years ago and find ourselves back in the rankings as well.

Not a total shocker. Rupp will keep teams at bay. Cajuns do have some question marks; more so due to transfers out than the actual coaching change. We need to see who develops as the #1 pitcher. But we have very good depth. Regardless, the Sun Belt has been getting better and better in softball.

That's how I would have voted it, but the Cajuns have historically done pretty well against Rupp. The Cajuns host the Bobcats this year at Lamson in mid-April during the regular season and also host the conference tournament. I'm hoping all the inexperience will be worked out by that time.